
Why Donaven McCulley switched from quarterback to Michigan football wide receiver
Why Donaven McCulley switched from quarterback to Michigan football wide receiver
Michigan football has a new No. 1 receiver, both literally and figuratively. This offseason, the Wolverines brought in former Indiana quarterback and wideout Donaven McCulley, who made the switch to receiver full time two years ago while still in Bloomington. Now that he's in Ann Arbor, the 6-foot-5 pass catcher isn't just expected to be the top target for the maize and blue offense, but he also switched from wearing No. 13 to No. 1 after the spring game.
But usually, players yearn to be the man under center, with the ball in their hands every play. However, for McCulley, it made sense for him to make that switch to receiver in 2023, and he hasn't looked back.
"I grew up playing quarterback, and that was just how I was raised wanting to be the quarterback," McCulley told Jon Jansen on the In the Trenches Podcast. "But as I got older, I started to grow a little more, get taller, and stuff. And I just noticed I had like really good hands and that was just something that I really wanted to do, play receiver."
Though McCulley isn't looking back in terms of wanting to throw darts around The Big House (he already did that as the IU starting QB in 2021), he is grateful that he had the opportunity. Not just because that was part of his childhood dream, but also because it helps him as a receiver.
He explained that knowing what the quarterback wants to do, how he reads the wide receiver routes, ball placement, and more, that it's helped him become better once he made the switch to pass catcher.
"It helped me a lot like with understanding where the quarterback wants me to be," McCulley said. "Coming to college, I feel like I didn't really get to experience that next level of the quarterback position because I switched so early. But just playing it like really my whole life, I just kind of understand like how the quarterback is going to throw this football or where he's going to be looking like when he scrambles out or something like that. And I think that just kind of helps build chemistry."
Fans will get an opportunity to see more of McCulley than they did in the spring game (where he had one catch on one target) come August 30 when the Wolverines host New Mexico for the season opener.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Washington Post
20 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Caitlin Clark, Reggie Miller, Oscar Robertson among those in crowd for Game 3 of NBA Finals
INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark is at the NBA Finals, taking a baseline seat to cheer on the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. The WNBA star — wearing a yellow T-shirt emblazoned with the famed 'In 49 other states it's just basketball. But this is Indiana' saying along with a finals logo — was seated with Indiana Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard for the game, in the same end of the floor as the Pacers' bench.

Associated Press
37 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Caitlin Clark, Reggie Miller, Oscar Robertson among those in crowd for Game 3 of NBA Finals
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark is at the NBA Finals, taking a baseline seat to cheer on the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. The WNBA star — wearing a yellow T-shirt emblazoned with the famed 'In 49 other states it's just basketball. But this is Indiana' saying along with a finals logo — was seated with Indiana Fever teammates Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard for the game, in the same end of the floor as the Pacers' bench. Among the other Indiana basketball royalty at the game: Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson and Reggie Miller, both seated near the court as well, along with Mark Jackson, Dale Davis and many other former Pacers. The Pacers were taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. It was the first Indiana home game in the NBA's title series since 2000. Clark and the Fever have been regular attendees at Pacers games during this playoff run when their schedule allows. The Fever don't play again until Saturday, at home against the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty. Clark has been sidelined with a thigh injury, but it's possible she returns to the lineup on Saturday. ___ AP NBA:


Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Detroit Tigers prized rookie Jackson Jobe to have season-ending Tommy John surgery
BALTIMORE — Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, the team announced Wednesday. The 22-year-old rookie went 4-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 10 starts after making Detroit's opening-day roster. He was placed on the 15-day injured with a Grade 1 right flexor strain following his May 28 outing.